On Sunday 15 June 2025, The Lord-Lieutenant, High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, and Dean of Southwell, jointly hosted a special service at Southwell Minster to celebrate our local communities and the official birthday of His Majesty The King.

The High Sheriff's chosen charities for his year in office are Brighter Futures Through Sport and FunDays in Nottinghamshire.

Through one-to-one mentoring, Brighter Futures Through Sport aims to improve outcomes for children regarding their educational achievements, life opportunities, physical and emotional well-being, and in forming positive relationships. We use sport as a tool to encourage self-reflection and communication, we talk about our feelings and actions so that we can learn from them.

We have experience of working with children that have a wide range of needs in the following areas from developmental trauma, difficulties in building and maintaining relationships, behavioural management, school attendance and emotional well-being.

We will invest time with each child to support them to feel empowered, to identify and use their own solutions to the difficulties they face and help them to participate in society as valued individuals.

We are currently mentoring in 48 schools across the Midlands and working with 860 children every week in key stages 1–4.

Fundays in Nottinghamshire was set up in 2002 to support for activities which provide recreational opportunities for children and adults with learning disabilities in the City and County of Nottinghamshire. There are real issues of isolation, loneliness and increased vulnerability for many of those with learning disabilities. The Charity currently supports weekly groups for drama, dance and poetry. Providing access to theatre opportunities for those with profound and multiple learning and physical disabilities has been another aspect of our work. It supports adults to have residential opportunities in Derbyshire and the Lakes. The more we are able to raise, the more we can support the many exciting opportunities making a difference for these children and adults in our County.